The 18-year-old was given a first run-out at second-team level and delighted a crowd of 166 with his calm and clever first-half finishing.

Playing on the right flank, the local who graduated through Stile Common and Space in the Junior Sunday League opened the scoring in sensible style on 21 minutes.

Nat Brown created the pressure with a low cross from the right and, when Craig Mudd could only clear to the edge of the area, Pike did the rest with a low right-foot drive.

It took Pike - whose father Chris is a well-known District League and Sunday player - only three minutes to add a second and, this time, he was in at the root of the sweeping Town move.

Collecting the ball near the centre circle, he advanced between defenders before releasing Jon Newby down the right.

When Newby's cross arrived in the box, Pike was on cue to score with a right-foot volley past hapless goalkeeper Brad Jones .

At that stage, Rotherham had already had their best chance through Paul Warne, who fired over when it seemed easier to score on 15 minutes, and they were never allowed to threaten again.

Town took a firm grip in the second half and the only surprise was that it took until the 73rd-minute for Brown to extend the lead with a neat header from Nathan Clarke's low-trajectory throw.

Brown had missed a glorious chance in the first half, created down the wing by right-back Tyrone Thompson, Pike and Dwayne Mattis, while Newby's luck still wasn't in as a cross bounced inches away from him in front of goal.

Newby sprinted away skilfully to fashion a chance for Adnan Ahmed as Town enjoyed control and gained a valuable 90 minutes of fitness work for Clarke and the recovering Chris Holland.

Both looked untroubled and clearly just need a few extra games for sharpness.

Pike was replaced near the end, his job done, while Brown and Ahmed both came off suffering knocks.

Rotherham never looked likely to spoil Phil Senior's clean sheet, however, and Town's second string have now opened their campaign with two wins and two draws.

John Dungworth's side are next in action against Sheffuield United at Bramall Lane on Wednesday, October 8 (2.00).